This interview process is for a Software Engineer position at Yandex at the G18 level. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~14d
Experience·3 - 5 yrs
Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000
Interview time·135 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms Fundamentals. Practice coding problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming). Practice problems related to these topics daily.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design Principles. Study databases, caching, APIs.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into system design concepts. Study topics like database design, caching strategies, load balancing, microservices architecture, and API design. Work through system design case studies.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral Interview Prep. Use STAR method.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on your past experiences, focusing on teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and handling challenges. Use the STAR method to structure your answers.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Resume Review, Yandex Research, Mock Interviews.
Week 6: Review your resume, projects, and Yandex's technologies. Practice explaining your technical contributions and problem-solving approaches. Mock interviews can be very beneficial.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
Technical Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer
This round focuses on assessing your fundamental programming skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems that typically involve data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your ability to write efficient, correct, and readable code, as well as your approach to problem-solving.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a binary search tree.
Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem and asked to design a solution, considering aspects like scalability, reliability, and performance. Expect to discuss database choices, API design, caching strategies, and trade-offs.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.
Design a rate limiter.
Design a distributed cache.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager / Team Lead
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and cultural fit. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflicts, failures, successes), your motivations, and your career goals. The interviewer wants to understand how you work in a team and if you align with Yandex's values.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a difficult technical challenge and how you overcame it.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult colleague.
Why are you interested in Yandex?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Yandex loops
Other guides
